URGENT MEMO TO ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS
Date: July 9, 2007
To: Assembly Republican Legislators
From: Jon Fleischman, Publisher, The FlashReport
RE: Your vote is urgently needed against ACA 8
There is a very dangerous measure making its way through the California legislature right now, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8, authored by Democrat Hector De La Torre.
Why is this measure dangerous? As we all know, the tragic decision of the United States Supreme Court in Kelo vs. New London has allowed for significant abuse of eminent domain by government, allowing private property to be seized by local government on behalf of other private parties, if there is economic benefit to the local government. It’s a terrible decision, and one that rightly strikes fear into all advocates of the rights of private property owners.
Since the decision passed, all across America, we are seeing states adopt measures to protect property owners in their states. Last year, California voters had an opportunity to enact real protections against eminent domain abuse in Proposition 90, which unfortunately did not pass.
Fortunately, there is an initiative that has been drafted and is currently gathering signatures for the ballot next year that is co-sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the California Farm Bureau, and the California Alliance to Protect Property Rights. This measure is the ‘real deal’ — it actually does what it says, ends the ability for local government to use the Kelo decision to trample the rights of property owners. (Any information you need on this measure, as well as a comparison of it to ACA 8 can be found here.).
The ‘redevelopment industry’ is a powerful one, with tremendous resources and natural allies amongst the party of Clinton. Undoubtedly they will be trying their hardest to ‘lure’ Republicans into supporting their measure, whether through misleading lobbying about this measure’s contents, or veiled commitments for help in future political battles. Don’t fall prey to their rhetoric.
**There is more – click the link**